Research on the impact of data factor marketization on carbon productivity

As the fifth major production factor following land, labor, capital, and technology, data factors characterized by non-rivalry, strong penetrability, and near-zero marginal cost are optimizing economic production methods and improving resource allocation efficiency. This paper focuses on the impact of data factor marketization on carbon productivity, conducting research from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. Using panel data of 30 provincial-level regions in China (excluding Xizang, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) from 2011 to 2022, this paper employs the panel fixed-effect model, mediating effect model, and threshold model to analyze the impact, transmission mechanism, and nonlinear relationship of data factor marketization on carbon productivity. The results show that, first, the regression results of the panel model indicate that data factor marketization can significantly improve regional carbon productivity. Second, the mediating effect model reveals that data factor marketization enhances carbon productivity by promoting industrial structure upgrading, technological innovation, and the optimization of energy consumption structure. Third, based on the regression results from the threshold effect model, the impact of data elements on carbon productivity exhibits a nonlinear relationship, constrained by thresholds related to its own marketization maturity and the level of economic development: only when data factor marketization breaks through the critical value and economic development reaches a certain level can its positive driving effect on carbon productivity be fully released. Moreover, the higher the level of economic development, the stronger the intensity and significance of this driving effect. The conclusions of this paper provide theoretical support for deepening the reform of data factor marketization and exploring practical paths for digital empowerment of low-carbon development and are of great significance for achieving high-quality economic development and the goals of "carbon peaking" and "carbon neutrality."